Play better if you want no criticism

JOHN STONES says he feels wounded that England’s defenders have been blamed for the team’s recent poor form. Yet there is a way to rectify that. Defend better.

As it is, England will in all likelihood play five at the back in Qatar, plus Declan Rice holding, because Gareth Southgate feels his back line cannot be trusted. So it’s not just those outside the camp who are unsure of England’s defensive capabilities. If Southgate had faith he would play a back four and an extra forward, which is the true strength of his team. Stones said it is not appreciated that some of England’s defenders don’t play regularly but, again, whose fault is that?

Harry Maguire was in Erik ten Hag’s first team at Manchester united initially, but lost his place. Stones has started less than half of Manchester City’s games this season. ‘Sometimes we forget what players have done in the past,’ Stones added, but that is the nature of football. Southgate cannot rely on Maguire as he did in 2018, so surrounds him with support at others’ expense. Bukayo Saka may not make the team as a result. Now that’s wounding.